News

The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) recently announced that the Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances has received 10,000 calls. The confidential, 24-hour hotline is designed to help provide support for people dealing with substance abuse, or their families. The program launched in December of 2017.

While the Illinois State Fair, an annual event showcasing what Illinois has to offer, is still six months away, live music fans got an update this week on the musical acts set to perform. So far, Grammy-winning country duo Dan & Shay are on the schedule for Sunday, August 11. In addition, a Capella group Pentatonix will play on Wednesday, August 14th. The Illinois State Fair runs from August 8 through August 18.

After passing the Illinois House on a party-line vote, a controversial $15 per hour minimum wage hike is on its way to Governor JB Pritzker’s desk. The plan, if signed into law, would raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour over 6 years, and to $13 per hour during the same period for those under 18.

State Senator Sue Rezin, R-Morris, and State Representative David Allen Welter, R-Morris, have sent a letter to Exelon Corporation requesting a meeting to discuss the companys statement in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission that they may close their generating stations at Dresden and Braidwood. In the letter, Rezin and Welter emphasize the importance of protecting local jobs and the regions energy infrastructure.

Springfield, IL. State Sen. Craig Wilcox (R-McHenry) filed legislation Wednesday (Feb. 13) to ensure local government consolidation puts taxpayers first ...

Legislation aimed at consolidating government and reducing property taxes by allowing for the dissolution of water drainage districts passed unanimously out of the Senate's Local Government Committee last week. State Senator Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) said Senate Bill 90 is a small, but important step in reducing the property tax burden in Illinois.

With the U.S. Census and redrawing of Illinois Congressional and General Assembly maps fast approaching, State Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) is leadingthe effort to include a fair maps amendment on the ballot for the upcoming electionan initiative to grant control of the redistricting process to a nonpartisan, independent committee to draw the districts, rather than entrenched politicians.

Targeting campaign fund corruption between lobbyists and state legislators, State Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) has sponsored legislation to prohibit lobbyists with political campaign accounts from donating to members from that account.

State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) is asking people to help show support for a fair maps effort that would give the voters the power to decide the issue during the next election. People should be picking their representatives instead of politicians picking their voters, said Sen. Barickman. We have the opportunity to make that happen, by letting the voters decide during the next election..."

Every ten years after the U.S. Census is taken, Illinois redraws its Congressional and Legislative District maps. The current process allows the politicians to draw their own legislative districts taking the people totally out of the process. This then makes legislators beholden to their leaders who draw their districts not to the people they represent. While this has worked well for politicians in the past, it has not for the people of this state. Recently, I signed on as a sponsor for Senate Joint Resolution-Constitutional Amendment 4 that would give voters the opportunity to amend the Constitution...

State Senator Neil Anderson released the below statement following the Senate vote on Senate Bill 1, which would increase the minimum wage to $15 over six years.

State Senator Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) released the below statement following the Senate vote on Senate Bill 1, which would increase Illinois minimum wage to $15 statewide over six years.

Senator Jim Oberweis released the following statement after the Senate voted increase the minimum wage incrementally to $15.00 per hour for standard and tipped employees over a six-year ramp.

State Senator Sue Rezin (R-Morris) released the below statement following the Senate vote on Senate Bill 1, which would increase Illinois minimum wage to $15 over six years.

The Illinois Senate jammed through a partisan minimum wage hike despite the need for further negotiations and regional protections, according to State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington). This isnt about whether or not the minimum wage should be increased, its about how much, how fast, and what we can do to minimize the loss of jobs, especially downstate, said Barickman. Unfortunately this legislation doesnt really do much of anything on any of those fronts..."

On February 7, a costly 15 dollar minimum wage increase to be phased in over the next 6 years was passed out of the Senate.

On February 7, the Democrat-majority in the Senate passed a costly 15 dollar minimum wage increase to be phased in over the next 6 years.

On February 7, a costly 15 dollar minimum wage increase to be phased in over the next 6 years was passed out of the Senate.

I am disappointed in today's Illinois Senate vote to increase the minimum wage. This proposal will send job creators fleeing to neighboring states, place a tremendous budgetary strain on local institutions, and make it much more difficult for unskilled workers to find jobs, said Senator Schimpf. I urge my colleagues in the Illinois House to reject this rushed, one-size-fits-all proposal that will have negative consequences for our region...

State Senator Donald P. DeWitte (R-St. Charles) released the below statement following the Senate vote on Senate Bill 1, which would increase Illinois minimum wage to $15 over the next six years.

Senator Chuck Weaver released the following statement February 7 after the Senate advanced a measure to increase the minimum wage incrementally to $15.00 per hour for standard and tipped employees over a six-year ramp.

On February 7, a costly 15 dollar minimum wage increase to be phased in over the next 6 years was passed out of the Senate.

State Senator Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) released the below statement following the Senate vote on Senate Bill 1, which would increase Illinois minimum wage to $15 statewide over six years.

The Senate Republican Caucus is asking the people of Illinois to speak up and help put a fair maps amendment on the ballot for the next election, giving people the power to pick their legislators instead of letting lawmakers pick their voters.

State Senator Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) joined several Senate Republican Senators in Springfield today to back a bipartisan plan that would put a fair redistricting proposal on the ballot and to invite constituents to sigh his petition on the issue.